Last Updated on March 29, 2024 by Luke Feldbrugge
Wondering how to ask for a Google Review effectively as a real estate agent? This article offers five strategic tips tailored for agents seeking to enhance their online presence and credibility through positive client feedback online.
Key Takeaways on How to Ask for a Google Review
- Establishing a Google Business Profile is vital for showcasing Google Reviews, boosting your online visibility and credibility.
- Informing clients early about your intent to request reviews and choosing the optimal moment post-transaction can significantly increase their engagement.
- Personalizing your review request and simplifying the review process encourage more positive responses.
- Actively responding to all reviews demonstrates your commitment to client feedback and engagement.
- BONUS: Homes for Heroes can help real estate agents grow their business by appealing to local heroes, further enhancing their market specialty and reputation. Sign up and schedule a time to learn more about what Homes for Heroes has to offer.
Learning how to ask for a Google Review involves personalizing your request, choosing the right timing, making it easy for clients, and engaging with the feedback received. By putting these practices into play, a real estate agent can enhance their online reputation and attract more prospects.
Why Google Reviews Matter to your Business
Google Reviews are public ratings and feedback left by your clients on Google, detailing their experience with your services. Each review includes a star rating (from 1 to 5) and a written comment. The star rating is required but the written comments are optional.
Potential clients often trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. When you receive Google Reviews with high ratings and positive feedback, it builds the confidence of other prospects interested in your services.
In an attempt to prioritize the most valuable content on the internet for a specific user’s needs, Google’s algorithm favors businesses with more reviews, and those who have higher star ratings. This typically means your business has the potential to rank higher in search results, and that can generate more clicks and website traffic.
“When people search for information, Google prioritizes connecting them to the most reputable businesses that are the most relevant to their search. And the number one way to let Google know your business is reputable and prioritizes delivering quality service to your clients is to have clients leave reviews on your Google Business Profile.” – Seth Jeska, Senior Growth Marketing Specialist at Homes for Heroes
Plus, Google Reviews can provide you with a genuine perspective from prospects and clients regarding your business and the services you offer.you can share good reviews in your other marketing communications via email or social media, provide you with valuable feedback to improve your services and client experience.
This is why we believe it is important for real estate agents to learn how to ask for a Google Review so they are not missing out on valuable feedback that can elevate their business, simply because they didn’t ask.
You Will Need a Google Business Profile
Before we go through how to ask for a Google Review, we need to first make sure you have the tools to do it. A Google Business Profile is a free listing provided by Google that allows your business to show up in Google Search and Maps. It includes important information like your business name, location, hours, contact details, and, critically, customer reviews.
There are some specific business eligibility criteria and ownership guidelines that you will need to meet before Google will verify your business.
If you meet Google’s requirements, setting up your Google Business Profile is pretty straightforward and, best of all, free. Make sure to fill out all the information accurately, add high-quality photos, and continue to update your profile with new content and business news.
Tips to Ask for a Google Review
There’s nothing wrong with asking your clients for a Google Review. Google actually prefers that you ask for reviews. But, they do insist you follow their best practices and guidelines. There are in fact wrong ways to ask. Here are some practical tips on how to ask for a Google Review, that also align with Google’s best practices.
1) Best Practice is to Let Them Know Upfront
If you know getting Google Reviews for your business is important, and you are highly likely (or without a doubt) planning to ask every client for a Google Review, then let them know upfront. Let your clients know you appreciate and value their feedback and that you will be asking for their feedback along the way. If you know specifically when, then let them know the timing.
They will appreciate finding out about this BEFORE you actually ask for their feedback, and because you provided the courtesy of giving them a heads up, they may be more inclined to respond with a Google Review when you ask for it.
2) Timing isn’t Everything, but It Does Matter
When you’re trying to figure out how to ask for a Google Review, we can tell you the best time to do it is immediately following a successful transaction. Your client’s satisfaction will be high, and their experience with you top of mind. If you don’t receive a review within a few weeks (give them some time, remember they just closed), it’s okay to send a gentle reminder.
Couple thing to mention on this:
- Not everybody likes to leave public reviews online
- Not everybody has a Google account (and they need one to leave a Google Review)
- Not everybody will remember to leave you a Google Review, even if they had every intention to do so. Sometimes life takes over and things get missed.
One gentle reminder is perfectly acceptable and will suffice. If the Google Review doesn’t happen, no big deal.
3) Be Personal and Specific
Because Google reviews are so valuable to your business, and home transactions are so infrequent and extremely large purchases for most American home buyers, we recommend not sending automated emails or texts to ask a client for a Google Review. The relationship between real estate professionals and their clients is much deeper than a retail transaction between a grocer and their shopper.
Instead, create an email template (or text if that is preferred) that conveys your gratitude for getting the chance to serve them. This template should cover all of the things you would say to any client, and follow all common courtesies and customer communication best practices.
Then, transform that template into a personal and meaningful email for each specific client. Add specific details about their transaction and the journey you took with them to make your request feel more genuine, honest and meaningful. Reflect on unique, special or even mutually humorous moments you shared together.
Then, make your ask. Be sure to let them know you value their perspective and would appreciate their honest feedback regarding their experience with you, your employees, your partners and your business.
4) Make It Easy – Use Your Google Business Review Link
Provide a direct link to your Google Business Profile in your email, text message, or through social media (direct message). The fewer clicks it takes to leave a review, the better. Remember, you are asking them for a favor. Make it easy for them to do it for you.
5) Respond to Google Reviews
Make sure to acknowledge every review you receive. Reflect the joy and gratitude of the positive reviews, and do all you can to fix the negative reviews (at minimum, it will appear publicly that you did all you could to help make it right).
When you respond to reviews, it shows that you value feedback and are engaged with your clients. That public perception can go a long way for earning new prospects and maintaining the respect of existing clients.
In Conclusion
It’s clear to see that Google reviews are more than just a nice-to-have for real estate agents; they are extremely valuable for illustrating your business’s online presence, as well as your reputation and ability to deliver upon client expectations.
Whether you’re a seasoned agent or just beginning your journey in the real estate industry, the tips outlined above on how to ask for a Google Review are intended to help you maximize the impact of your Google Reviews.
Take these strategies to heart, integrate them into your workflow, and build Google Reviews into a stream of accolades and endorsements for you and your business.
Niche Program to Help Grow Your Business
We hope you found this article helpful. Since you’re in the growth mindset, if you have not spoken with a member of our team about the niche program we provide and the benefits it can offer your business, now might be the right time as you’re thinking about ways to grow your business online.
Homes for Heroes can help you specialize in your market and grow your real estate business by focusing your services on helping your local heroes buy, sell or refinance a home. You can offer them something special, something beyond the transaction, by saving them significant money as a way to thank them for their service.
Simply register and schedule a time to learn more about the benefits of being a Homes for Heroes local market specialist, and become the agent or lender your community heroes want to work with for their home and mortgage needs.
